They have a young team and sadly this is a feature of a young team. I really am pulling for them, but they were one of my picks for the drop.
That was a very good one. Can't criticise a lot, Jenkinson and Mert started poorly but they picked up during the game. Diaby bullied them, he could be our Yaya Toure. He has to stay fit. The timing of the international break is a bit unlucky, hopefully we carry on like this. Stable defence and clinical finishing is the key for us. Giroud has to start scoring soon, but it's good to see that he's getting chances in the game. Would be worse if he'd be completely anonymous. The day could have been perfect if a certain Dutchman hadn't scored 2 late goals to correct his embarrassing and arrogant penalty miss...
Greetings comrades I'm on the way to za paris but was at the game today we put in a good degfensive performance and were quite comfortable at times we are the only team with a perfect defence
Part of this is because of Bould, part of it is down to our Captain and Vice Captain. Bould sets the defensive plan, Verm and Arteta enforce it on field.
Believe this or believe it not.We invited Nigel Winterburn to our supporters club's annual dinner last March.After the meal we had a Q & A session with him.One of the questions asked was obviously about coaching defensive tactics.According to NW you can't coach defensive tactics
Out of my respect for NW, i'll believe it. But how have we miraculously improved. Is it more about organisation than tactics?
I can go along with that Cym. Defenders are reacting to attackers, there's nothing tactically a defender can do, so much of the game is about positioning and instinct and maybe it's the positioning that Bouldy has got the line to focus on. Our famous zone defending at set pieces seems to be much improved as well, not sure what's been done on the training ground but it seems to be working. Someone said it elsewhere earlier but bar the odd individual moment of madness we look a much better defensive unit without Song, keeping our shape a little more maybe ?
Yes, Hansen is on Motd. Time to watch him squirm. Van Persie runs like a girl. As expected, the beeb jizzed all over Van Persie.
He also stated during his post match interview that "Jack is looking very good in training". I did'nt even know he was back in full training? Will be great to have him back again!
Nice article by Zonalmarking, I think it pretty much explains the difference between the two teams. http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/09/02/liverpool-0-2-arsenal-cazorla/
In fairness to you guys.. Arsenal we're very sound against us Stoke and!.. I could see a massive difference to last season... As for Steve Bould, he may not be able to (teach a player) how to defend but tonight on MOTD2 Hansen was quite right. If in doubt kick it out! Just clear the danger and it's working for you. Thought you looked really solid (Again) vs Liverpool today. And that guy Cazorla spelling? is some player!!
Glad everyone's beginning to notice, it might stop the hazard ****-fest. 20 million less than Hazard, is Hazard 20 million times better?
So according to the article (a good read as always) we're basically stealing strategies from Dortmund now? Nice one Arsene, i like it.
Well it would make perfect sense. For me Dortmund have been the MOST impressive team in Europe for the past three seasons. Not quite on the level of Barcelona and Madrid but still a very strong attacking squad built on a shoestring budget. They score a heap of goals and have conceded only 42 goals in the last TWO seasons. (we conceded 49 last season alone) We did need a change of tactics and it seems to be working. Our defence looks organised yet our fullbacks are still getting forward and contributing to the attack. Lets hope we can keep it up. I still think the Ballplayer (Vermaelen) and Ballwinner (Meretesacker) combo gives the defence more balance than Kos and Verm partnership would. Bould seems to be doing a great job